( i9i ) 



New-England. Their firft fettlement, after leav- 

 ing their own country to live amongft us, was on a 

 little river which difcharges itfelf into the St. Law- 

 rence, almoft oppofite to Sillery, that is to fay, 

 about a league and a half above Quebec, on the 

 fouth Ihore. They fettled here near a fall of water, 

 called le Sault de la Claudiere^ or the fall of the ket- 

 tle. They now live on the banks of the St. Fran- 

 cis, two leagues from its difcharge into lake St. 

 Peter. This fpot is very delightful, which is pity, 

 thefe people having no relifli for the beauties of a 

 fine fituation, and the huts of Indians contributing 

 but little to the embellifhment of a profpecl. This 

 village is extremely populous, all the inhabitants of 

 which are Chriftians. The nation is docile, and 

 always much attached to the French. But the mif- 

 fionary has the fame inquietudes on their account 

 with him at Beckancourt, and for the fame rea- 

 fons. 



I was regaled here with the juice of the maple ; 

 this is the feafon of its flowing. It is extremely 

 delicious, has a mod pleafing coolnefs, and is ex- 

 ceeding wholfome the manner of extracting it is 

 very fimple. When the fap begins to afcend, they 

 pierce the trunk of the tree, and by means of a bit 

 of wood, which is inferred in it, and along which 

 it flows, as through a pipe, the liquor is conveyed 

 into a vefTel placed under it. In order to produce 

 an abundant flow, there muft be much fnow on 

 the ground, with frofty nights, a ferene fky, and 

 the wind not too cool. Our maples might pofTibly 

 have the fame virtue, had we as much fnow in 

 France as there is in Canada, and were they to laft 

 as long. In proportion as the fap thickens the flow 

 abates, and in a little time after, wholly ceafes. It 

 is eafy to guefs, that after fuch a difcharge of what 



may 



